by Nancy Seiverd | Nov 3, 2026 | Feature Article
For centuries, credit and collection professionals have encountered countless explanations for why an overdue invoice hasn’t been paid. But what happens when the person offering the explanation isn’t a person at all? Welcome to the brave new world of...
by Nancy Seiverd | Oct 6, 2026 | Feature Article
Recently, a credit manager at one of our clients called me about a customer that had become something of a dilemma. For the last three years, the customer had been submitting orders between $40,000 and $60,000, which fit comfortably within the customer’s $60,000...
by Nancy Seiverd | Sep 8, 2026 | Feature Article
Here’s the background: a credit manager believes the company she is selling to is a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of a financially strong German corporation. Although the U.S. company’s credit isn’t particularly strong, its presumed German parent has an excellent...
by Nancy Seiverd | Aug 4, 2026 | Feature Article
Cash flow problems rarely begin with a single event. More often, they develop quietly. A few customers begin paying a little later than usual. Inventory starts moving more slowly. Expenses creep upward while sales level off. Before long, management realizes there...
by Nancy Seiverd | Jul 6, 2026 | Feature Article
Most credit professionals have probably asked themselves at one time or another, “Am I being paid what I’m really worth?” It’s a fair question. Over the past several years, the responsibilities of many credit managers have expanded well beyond...
by Nancy Seiverd | Jun 5, 2026 | Feature Article
At first glance, a $35,000 purchase order from a new customer may appear to be nothing but good news. The sales team celebrates the new business, production prepares the order, and finance anticipates another profitable transaction. However, hidden within many...
by Nancy Seiverd | May 5, 2026 | Feature Article
As credit and collection professionals, we spend decades solving problems most people never see. We analyze financial statements, assess risks, navigate disputes, manage relationships, and make judgment calls that directly impact cash flow and profitability. Over...
by Nancy Seiverd | Apr 7, 2026 | Feature Article
In 17th century Amsterdam, tulips became more valuable than gold. At the height of what is now known as “Tulip Mania,” a single bulb could sell for the price of a house. It was one of the earliest recorded economic bubbles, driven by speculation, scarcity, and the...
by Nancy Seiverd | Mar 5, 2026 | Feature Article
Due to the Supreme Court’s recent decision striking down Trump’s tariffs, refunds may be available to importers of record through U.S. Customs, but apparently only after litigation. In addition, because tariff costs were typically passed along through supply chains,...
by Nancy Seiverd | Feb 2, 2026 | Feature Article
Valentine’s Day is usually associated with romance, roses, wine, and chocolate. But this year, something far less sweet is lurking behind the heart-shaped boxes on store shelves. Tariffs on imported goods which include cocoa, sugar, and packaging materials, are...
by Nancy Seiverd | Jan 6, 2026 | Feature Article
Every credit and collection professional knows the truth: January isn’t just the start of a new year; it’s the start of the annual payment excuse season. Once the holiday decorations come down, the real “January effect” kicks in, and suddenly the promises that...
by Nancy Seiverd | Dec 12, 2025 | Feature Article
by Nancy Seiverd | Nov 3, 2025 | Feature Article
As the federal government shutdown drags on, its ripple effects are spreading far beyond Washington. While political leaders trade soundbites, credit and collection professionals are seeing something more tangible — a creeping freeze in cash flow that’s hitting...
by Nancy Seiverd | Oct 7, 2025 | Feature Article
October has long been associated with ghosts, goblins, and eerie tales of things that disappear in the night. But for credit and collection professionals, the scariest kind of “ghosting” doesn’t happen in haunted houses — it happens when a once-reliable customer...
by Nancy Seiverd | Sep 8, 2025 | Feature Article
As the weather cools and companies shift gears into the final quarter of the year, credit and collection professionals face more than just seasonal changes. This fall, the business climate is shaped by a combination of policy shifts, economic headwinds, and new...
by Nancy Seiverd | Aug 4, 2025 | Feature Article
Cryptocurrency has evolved from a niche experiment into a mainstream financial tool, raising an important question for businesses: Should your company use cryptocurrency to pay its commercial obligations? As adoption grows among major corporations and startups alike,...
by Nancy Seiverd | Jul 7, 2025 | Feature Article
July marks more than just the start of the second half of the year, it’s also a critical checkpoint for credit professionals. Are your credit goals for 2025 on track? Or have they quietly drifted off course while you were juggling approvals, collections, lack of...
by Nancy Seiverd | May 6, 2025 | Feature Article
Mother’s Day reminds us that real love isn’t about saying ‘yes’ to everything — it’s about knowing when to say ‘no’ for someone’s own good. In credit risk management, tough love isn’t just necessary, it’s the heart of protecting both customers and companies. Setting...
by Nancy Seiverd | Apr 4, 2025 | Feature Article
At first glance, Easter eggs — a symbol of fun, mystery, and childhood delight — seem to have little to do with the serious world of credit risk management. However, when we step back and ponder these two activities more deeply, intriguing similarities begin to...
by Nancy Seiverd | Mar 4, 2025 | Feature Article
It has certainly been quite the whirlwind over the past several weeks with many new changes in our regulatory agencies. One change that has hit close to my credit and collection home has to do with the sidelining of the Consumer Financial Protection...
